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Valverde says his side may struggle after three games against Real

Ernesto Valverde says his side may struggle after three games against Real Madrid.

Last Updated: 25/01/13 3:38pm

Roberto Soldado: Takes his side to The Riazor

Valencia's two-legged Copa del Rey defeat to Jose Mourinho's men sandwiched a 5-0 home hammering in their last La Liga outing which brought into question their hopes of clinching a Europa League place.

Valverde's men head into the weekend five points off fourth place in the standings and far from fresh, with the Valencia coach knowing his team are likely to have another major fight on their hands at the Riazor.

He said: "We understand the importance of this game and it would have been good if we could have an extra day of rest and played on Sunday.

"We are going to a team that is bottom but points are important to them. They have changed their coach and their game. But we have got to build on the good things we did against Madrid."

Deportivo are far from doomed to the drop despite last week's defeat at Osasuna, which left them only three points off safety.

Coach Domingos Paciencia is desperate to shore up his defence in the transfer window.

He said: "We are doing everything we can to make things happen. I am optimistic about the arrival of a new defender."